Monday, March 4, 2013
About 30 residents gathered today in front of the Douglas County Courthouse to protest the Douglas County Animal Shelter's new director, Rick Smith.
About 30 residents gathered today in front of the Douglas County Courthouse to protest the Douglas County Animal Shelter's new director, Rick Smith, and the policies he has put in place. County spokesman, Wes Tallon, told WSBTV that Smith has been on the job for less than 90 days. “Mr. Smith has got to be given a chance," he said. "He has not been here long enough to establish his programs and what he plans on doing,” Tallon said. In February, more than 1,300 people signed an online petition to remove the Douglas County Animal Shelter's new director, Rick Smith. 11Alive news reported that at least one more petition existed, also with more than 1,000 signatures. "New Douglas County animal shelter director Rick Smith is making numerous …
Friday, February 15, 2013
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners responds to recent criticism of the Animal Shelter after hiring a new director and seeing two resignations.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners responds to recent criticism of the Animal Shelter after hiring a new director and seeing two resignations.
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Thursday, February 14
(Editor's note: the following is a press release sent to Douglasville Patch today by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners.) The Douglas County Animal Shelter/Animal Control Department has undergone many changes over the past year in an effort to increase the number of animal adoptions/decrease the euthanasia rate, provide better citizen service, and plan for the future. The current Douglas County Animal Shelter was constructed in the mid-1980s to meet the needs of the suburban population of the County which was about 55,000 people. The Shelter had 20 dog kennels that could contain two dogs each, and 30 cat cages. A puppy room had the capacity of 16 small dog cage enclosures. The Animal Shelter was run by the independent not-for-profit…
Friday, February 8, 2013
The shelter’s field supervisor and the shelter supervisor have resigned and an Animal Control Advisory Board member has been removed.
More than 1,300 people have signed an online petition to remove the Douglas County Animal Shelter's new director, Rick Smith. 11Alive news is reporting tonight that at least one more such petition exists, also with more than 1,000 signatures. "New Douglas County animal shelter director Rick Smith is making numerous changes at Douglas County Animal Control, all of which will result in more animals being killed," reads the online petition, posted by Douglas Animal Advocates Network. "Rick’s proposed new animal ordinance updates will make him judge, jury and executioner and will give him even more power to kill animals." Carl Pyrdum, an outspoken critic of Smith, was removed from the county's Animal Control Advisory Board this week by the …
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
4:58 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
The numbers were not made up but were provided by filing an open records request with Mr. Smith's previous employer. You can contact them at Director of Health, City of St. Joseph Health Department,904 S. Tenth Street, St. Joseph, MO 64503. I am sure they will be able to provide you with the same information. Here are his numbers from 2008-2012 , provided by the St.Jo Mo Department of Health , Mr… more ›